AN Auckland Ostrich Farm.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 21 (Supplement)

AN Auckland Ostrich Farm.

i^^^gOOKING at the mattei J^ci -jUl*4iS';7 ■> an<^ outsider's «-k- -i lilce Arabia and_ considerable tracts of Africa as its natural home, it would seem that the tropical climate of various parts of Australia would provide more ideal conditions for the naturalisation of the ostrich than the more temperate and damper climate of New Zealand. These are the re. flections that would occur to the average person; but, taking into account mat the same average person has a vague sort of idea, that pebbles and bits of broken glass comprise the mam items in an ostrich's diet, his, or her, views are somewhat discounted at the outset. However this may be, Messrs Lawrence A. and N. Alfred Nathan purchased in 1887 some fortytwo South African ostriches - and placed them on their estate at Whitford Park. Mr Dibble, the present manager of Whitford Park, had charge of them. It can hardly be said that the birds were looked upon at the outset as the foundation of a prospective successful industry. Nevertheless, a few years sufficed to show that the stock throve remarkably well. The birds were regularly plucked and kept in good condition, but beyond this received little attention, and the enterprise could hardly be construed as scientific ostrich farming. Some four years ago steps were taken to put things on a better commercial footing,and a small section of the Whitford Park estate blossomed out into an

ADAPTABILITY OF THE BIRDS TO LOCAL CONDITIONS INDISPUTABLE.

TWO-YEAR-OLD BIRDS AT WHITFORD PARK.

■' ostrich farm. Mr Martin, who had its development, and the habits of the 1 had seven years' experience in South birds. Whitford Park comprises Some 5 Australia, as manager of the S.A. Co.'s three thousand acres, situated some v ostrich farm, was secured as manager, twenty miles from the city of Auckil and a few Algerian birds, a. breed noted -land on Turanga creek. Several hun- - for their exceptionally fine plumage, dred acres are regularly farmed by c were imported to improve the flock. Air Dibble on a three-course rotation, I Within the past few months a clean- and besides the ostriches a large*num- ! ing and dressing room has been es- ber ot cattle and sheep are carried. i tablished, I\irs Martin being sent to Whitford is one of the prettiest , Australia, to learn the business, and places within comparatively easy clis- • an experienced finisher being engaged tance of Auckland, being, as we have iin Victoria. ' said, some twenty miles from town.

Visiting Whitford Parkin the spring In estimating the distance, however, of this year, the writer was most; it is necessary to make some very concourteously- shown round by Messrs siderable allowance for the last few Dibble and Martin,-who gave all pos- miles of l-oad. At Whitford they do sible information as to the industry, not know whether you are speaking

sarcastically or not when you say, T admire your roads,', for. it seems they are simply perfection compared with what they used to be; but it is pretty safe *to conclude, that the townsman, if he 'admires' the roads,

is giving vent to his ideas in quite the most sarcastic vein. Seriously we humbly suggest that extensive block's and tackle, fitted at the tops of one or two of the hills, would be a pleasing and appreciated innovation. In spite of all one may say against the steepness of the hills, it is from one of these that a, most comprehensive view of Whitford is obtainable. Just after passing over a fairly steep ridge a most extensive panorama opens out. Flooded, as it was when Aye visited the Park, with that peculiarly brilliant sunlight which follows on a heavy rain storm, there are few landscapes presenting a more pleasing combination of artificial and natural beauty than Whitford. Stretching nway up the valley are a succession of fields of the most beautiful green pasture, dotted here and there with clumps of native bush. Almost hidden by trees is the homestead, and close alongside there winds the creek, the waters of which at high tide appear like a sinuous silver thread. Ou either side of the valley rise steep ranges of hills, partially covered with bush, and the somewhat rugged appearance of which serves as a foil to the cultivated beauty of the valley. From the point of vantage on the ridge overlooking Whitford can be Keen by anyone, if gifted with even only moderately sharp eyes, ostriches dotted over the far pastures. At this distance they might be mistaken for cattle or anything else, but a little

closer inspection serves to establish their identity. The female mincb is .at first unable to. assimilate the fact that.these great grey-black birds are the producers of the. beautiful white feathers which in some seasons form such a distinctive feature of fashionable ehapeaux; but such is the case, and any" pleasing illusions .that ostriches are birds with plumage consisting entirely of beautiful large white curly feathers is quickly dispelled. A few white, though somewhat dirty, feathers are noticeable about the wings and tail, and for the rest the birds' plumage consists of small grey and grey black feathers. The legs and neclc, the main feathers of the ostrich, are also grey, and the former right to their junction with the body are practically featherless, while the latter is covered with small feathers. The eyes are a somewhat lack lustre brown, and the bill is a browny yellow. The Algerian birds are somewhat handsomer, having a pink tinge in neck and legs. At the present time there are about 300 ostriches at Whitford. They are pastured on about three hundred acres of first-class pasture, which, when it gets ahead of them in late

As far as preference goes it. seems that they are particularly, fond of clover and lucerne, and as to pasture, they do best on what would be cal-' led good sheep feed, that is when the grass is comparatively short. A supply of crushed bones is left in the various paddocks, and the breeding" birds are given some corn. The birds, which at other seasons of the year run. separately as regard sexes, are mated in twos during August for breeding. The -pairs picked out are. placed away in two acre paddocks in which are erected little ti-tree huts. A concession is made to the natural habits of the birds in filling these huts deep in sand, and in this sand the female ostrich lays its eggs, commencing to sit when about a dozen have been laid. Hatching takes just about six weeks, and it is a peculiar fact with regard to ostriches that the . -.ock and hen occupy the nest turn about. The little ones are not 'as might be supposed difficult to rear, care and shelter during the first six weeks and a supply of chopped up green food and finely crushed bones till they are able to look after themselves being all that is required. This season at Whitford Park a lar-

spring is eaten down with sheep and ger number of birds have been bred c cattle. Outside the pasture the birds than usual, some fifteen being mated. 1 only receive some turnips in winter The birds will breed on till the end c and occasionally green food,in the of the year, and as the little ones c form of rape, clovers, lucerne, etc. can be taken away from the parents c

early, a pair.of breeding birds can be relied on for more than one lot of young during the year The young birds are plucked after the first eight months, and after every succeeding eight months. A bird comes to maturity when between four ana -five years old, but how long.they will live is a question to which it is impossible at the time to give an answer. It seems that ostrich farming was only taken up in 1567. ' Prior to that date wild ostriches were simply hunted and killed for their., plumage, iaad this, system been continued there is little doubt but that, to-day the ostrich would have been practically extinct. Although, as we have said, owing to the comparatively recent date when ostrich farming was started no absolutely reliable data is-available as-to length of life of the ostrich, it.is estimated at from 80 to 100 years, under fav-ourable conditions. The average yield- of feathers per bird is from 1 to \\ - lbs every eight months, while the" price fluctuates considerably, being recently about ,& 12 to £14 a lb for best whites; that is something like- 2/ a feather for larje white wing feathers. The value of a pair of guaranteed breeding birds in New Zealand is about £100. A peculiar fact about ostriches is that they have hardly even a rudimentary knowledge of jumping, and an ordinary four or five wire fence with a rail at the top effectively partitions the birds off, while a couple of extra wires at the bottom will make a fence proof againstsmall birds. Mr Martin estimates the return per bird from plumage _:t about £?> a year, and the expenses at from 15/ to 22/ per bird. He considers, that two men and a boy should_„easily look after 500" birds, ..providing; that the sowing of the small quantity of green feed necessary was let by contract. • " " The increase at Whitford Park is now from 75 to 100 a year, and the birds from the beginning have been remarkably free from disease; far moi*e, sd it seems, than in their native country or in South Australia. As regards dressing the work requires a little experience, but is no secret. The feathers from the Whit'orcl Park farm, the dressing and dyeng establishment of which has been n operations only a few months,are rery highly spoken of; and with 25 .er cent, duty in their favour there s little doubt about tin local proluct capturing the New Zealand niarcet. Both Mr Dibble anu Mr Martin speak very confidently of the future jf ostrich farming in the province, considering that good pasture—pre- '}■ 'erably on sandy soil—and artificial >r natural shelter in all the packlocks •onstitute the only essentials to success.